Machine for locating and embossing buttons.



H. HASTINGS.

MACHINE FOR LOCATING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23,1912.

1 ,272,435 Patented-July 16, 1918.

H SHEETS-SHEET I,

H. HASTINGS.

MACHINE FOR LOCATING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

- 1,272,435 AIPPLICATIOIF FILED FEB. 23, 1912. Patented July 16,1918

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H. HASTINGS.

MACHINE FOR LOCAT-ING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, I912- Patented July 16, 1918\ H SHEETS-SHEET 3- Suva/m ce? m: mamas PETERS ca. PNOTO-LITNOY. wAsnmamm n, c.

H. HASTINGS. MACHINEHJR LOCATING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

Patented July 16, 1918.

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MACHINE FOR LOCATING AND EMBOSSINGBUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 91 2. 1,272,435. Patented July 16, 1918.

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MACHINE FOR LOCAT ING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23,1912- 1 ,272,435, Patented July16, 1918. 11 s' a.

H. HASTINGS.

MACHINE FOR LOCATING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 19121 Patented Ju1y16, 1918.

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H. HASTINGS.

MACHINE FOR LOCATING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

Patented July 16, 1918 I I SHEETS-SHEET 8 APPLICATION FILED EB. 23, 1912..

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HASTINGS.

MACHINE FOR LOCATING AND EMBOSSING BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, I9I2.

Patented July 16,: 19 18.

I I SHEETS-SHEET 9,.

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HERBERT HASTINGS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,- ASSIGNOR TO ART IN BUTTONS,

I INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed February 23, 1912. Serial No. 679,520.

To all whomct may concern: I

Be it known that I, HERB RT HASTINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Locating and Embossing Buttons, of which the following is a specification. I

The object of this invention is to provide a suitable machine for embossing buttons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable chuck for holding the button therein while the machine is operating on the said button.

Another object of my invention is to feed the buttons into said chucks and fasten them therein.

smother object of my invention is to provide the machinewith mechanism that will operate to rotate the buttons in the chucks and leavethem all in uniform positions with reference to the button holes.

Another object of the invention is to expose the patterns of the buttons in the chucks to the operator so that the uniformity or lack of uniformity of the position 1 of their patterns may be ascertained.

Another object of the invention is to'pro TlLlQ mechanism for rotating the misplaced buttons in their. chucks so that all buttons will have a uniform position with reference to their patterns. v

I Another object of the invention is to present the buttons properly placed to the em bossing press so that the buttons will be unis formly embossed with reference to their holes and patterns.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ejector for removing the finished buttons from the machine. 7

Another object of theinvention is to provide suitable safety devices to prevent misplaced buttons or other stock from injuring the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the uprights of the press, of which it forms a part, shown in section and partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine, with portions of the uprights and ram for the press shown in addition thereto.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation of'the ma chine showing the operation of the'ramof the press, the uprights of the press being omitted. I

- chuck Fig. ft is .a vertical section on the line 1 of Fig. 1. p

5 is asection on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the dial plate which carries the buttons, the-view being taken on the section line 66 in Fig. at. n

1 Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the line T 'in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, showing the mechanism for transferring the buttons from the feeding chute to the chucks.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the mechanism for driving and locking the dial plate, Fig. 8 being located by the section line 8 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 9 being located by the section line 9 9 in Fig. 41.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the cup lifting device which operates in connection with the ejecting mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the dial plate showing the chuckcollar or ring, cup and lifting thimbles in position, the section being taken on the line 11"-11 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the chuck collar and gripping fingers.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the lifting thimbles.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the dial plate, showing the chuck'collar and cup, the section being located on the line 1&*'14 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of one of the cups. i

Fig. 1% is a section through the, cup on the line 14L 14; of Fig.14.

Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of the dial plate and body of the machine, partly broken away, showing also the punches and the holder for carrying them, the holder being shown in section.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line 1( -1(3 f Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 16, the parts being shown in a different position.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism for rotating the dial plate.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18, the section being taken on the line 1919 of Figs. 1 and 18.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the driving pinion which is provided with ratchet teeth on its side.

F 21 is a perspective view of the ring keyed to the indexing pinion shaft, with which the pinion 20 cooperates to intermittently drive it.

Figs. 22 to 25 inclusive areplan views'of the buttons in the four positions which they may assume in the feeding and locating mechanism, all of which buttons are placed by the justifying mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 25'.

-Fig.f26 is a plan view ofthe finished embossed button.

Fig.2? is a detail perspective view'of the button centering ring and the bracket that supports it,"the parts being shown partly broken'away.

Fig. 28 is'adetail view of the delivery end of the feed chute, the parts shown separately in Figs. 27 and 28 being brought together in "Fig. '7.

Fig. 29 is-aiverticalsectional elevation on the line 29 29". in Fig. '1.

Fig. 30 is an elevation of a'portion of the dial plate :and the body portion of the machine, looking at the parts inthe direction indicated by the arrow 30 in Fig. 1'.

Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the valve which controls the blast "for the pneumatic ejector.

.Fig. 32 is a side elevation of the justifying mechanism, looking at it from the right hand side of 'Fig. 1.

"Fig. '33 is a detail view ofthe bell cranks for operating the selective plungers and the parts associated therewith. 1

Fig. 34 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 34"34 of Fig. 32, the shaft and justifying spindle being shown solid at the top andpartly broken away at'the'bottom.

Fig. 3'5"is a'vertical sectional'elevation on theiline Sin-35" of Fig.34, thedial plate being omit-ted.

Fig. 36 is a vertical sectional elevation-on the'line'36 36 of Fig.35. 7

Fig. 37-.is a rear View of the justifying mechanism, partly brokenaway, looking at it in the direction indicated by the arrows 37 in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 38 is a sectional elevation, partly broken away, of the justifying points, chuck collar and cup.

Fig.8?) is a perspective view of the device for retractingthe justifying spindle,

Fig. 40 is a detail view of the mechanism 'for locking the bell crank in its depressed position and for preventing the -simiiltaneous operation of a second bell crank.

i 'Fig. 41 is a detail View of one of the pinions for driving the justifying spindle.

Fig. 42 is a detail view of the collar which is'keyed to the'h'ub of the pinion for driving the justifying spindle.

Fig, 43 is detail perspective view of one of the pawls 86.

Fig. 44 is a detail view of the yoke connection between the ing lever. I

Figs. 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are detail views of the earns 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 respectively. Fig. 50 isahorizont'al section through the die holder and housing, taken on the line 50 50 .of Fig. 15. a a

Fig. 51 is a bottom plan view of the plunger 94 showing the .pins 101.

In the accompanying drawings 1 indicates the frame of an ordinary crank press in connection with which my invention is used. This press; has uprights 2, 2 on which are riarriedguides, and at the top of which are supported bearings-of a crank shaft. A crank-shaft is 'provided in such hearings, to which is connected-a. rain which is mounted totravel in the guides, and in which it is plunger and its operatmoved up and'down by the rotation of the crankshaft.

To the frame of this press is rigidly fastenedthe universal locating andpressing fixture which'operates with its mechanism on the buttons, 1st, to receivethem from the feeding device and fasten them in chucks, 2nd, to locate them in the chucks with respect to the button holes, 3rd, to expose them to-the-inspectio-n of the operator, 4th to justify the pattern on'thebutton with reference totheembossing'dies, and 5th, to emboss the buttonby presenting it totwo or more embossing dies in succession, and 6th, ejecting the but-ton from the-machine.

The mechanism of the locating and pressing fixture ismounted on a plate 3which at one side has a'series of bearings 4, 5, '6, 7 and 8 integral'therewith, which bearings are in 'line with eachother andby which are supported the cam shaft 9 from which the various elements of thefixture are operated. This cam shaftcarries at the left handend the beveled .gear 10 with which meshes a beveled pinion, by-which the button feeding deviceis operated. "This button feeding device is illustrated in the Patent No. 1,008,032, issued on Nov. 7, 1911, and the device illustrated and described in said patent isintended to be operated in connection with this machine. The button feeding device described in theaforesaid patent is now driven by a beveled pinion whichme'shes with the beveledgear 10 above described, which beveled pinion is keyed to the end of the shaft or bearing stem C this beveled pinion being used instead of thegrooved driving pulley E shown in Fig.1 of said patent.

Keyed to the beveled gear 10 is the sprocket wheel 11, which is driven by a sprocket chain, which in turn is driven by a sprocket. on thepresscrank. The sprocket chain which drivesthe sprocket wheel 11 is intended to travel over the idler 12 which is adjustably, mounted on the frame of the press. The adjustment consists of a bearing disk 13 which is pierced eccentrically'and is mounted on the bolt 1.4;. By loosening the bolt let and nut 15 the disk 13 may be turned thereon to change the center of rotation of the idler 12. It will be understood of course that the idler 12 rotates freely around the disk 13, and that the disk 13 is adjustable eccentrically as above described.

Keyed to the shaft 9 are the five cams as follows:

Cam 16, which operates the mechanism for driving upward the locating plunger;

Cam 17, which operates the mechanism for rotating the locating plunger;

Cam 18, which operates the mechanism for intermittently locking the rotating dial ilate:

1 Cam 19, which operates the mechanism for rotating the justifying plunger;

Cam 20, which operates the mechanism for driving upward the justifying plunger.

These various parts will presently be described.

Mounted on the stationaryplate 3 is the base plate 22, which is rigidly connected thereto. Integral with this base plate 22 is the upright stem 23. The dial plate 24: has a central opening therein which receives the stem 23 and around which the dial plate is adapted to rotate, all of which parts are shown in section in Fig. 4.

The dial plate 24carrics therein a plurality of chucks which may be of any de sired number, but which in the present construction is preferably limited to five. These chucks are for the purpose of receiving the buttons from the button feeding device illustrated in the Patent1,008,032 above referred to, from which they are fed through the feed chute 25 iilustrated in Fig. 7.

The construction of these chucks, which is an important feature of my invention, may be described as follows:

Mounted in the dial plate 2st are the collars or rings 26 which are held in the dial plate soas to have a slight vertical yielding movement therein, as I will now describe.

The collars 26 are provided with a flange 27-a1'ound the lower edge thereof, which engages with a corresponding recess on the lower side of the, dial plate, and by which the upward motion of the collar is limited, it being'understood that the collar is inserted in the dial plate from below. The collar of the chuck is suitably recessed at 28 and 29, as is illustrated in Figsjll and 12, these recesses occurring on the collar diametrically opposite each other. The dial plate is also suitably recessed at 30 and 31, so that between the recesses on the dial plate and the recesses in the collar 26, an opening is pro vided that is adapted to receive the chuck spring thimble 32.1 This thimble is cut from a single piece preferably, and is cylindrical in shape, having an annular recess 33 therein, on one side of which is the flat slotted head 34, by means of which it may be rotated in its seat for the purpose of looking it therein. On the other side of the recess the cylindrical part is cut away as indicated at 35 and 36.

Then the collar 26 is inserted in the dial plate from below shown in Fig. 11, and

brought to position so that the recesses 28 and 29 therein coincide with the recesses 30 and 31 of the dial plate, the thimbles with the springs 37 and 38 therein may be inserted in the dial plate from above and given a quarter turn which looks both the thimble and the collar in place in the dial plate. I

It will be noticed from the section illustrated in Fig. 11 and the perspective of Fig. 12, that the collar is provided with a flange'39, left therein between the recesses 28 and 29, with which the annular recess 33 of the thimble is adapted to engage, and to get the lower end of the thimble past the flange 39, the thimble itself is cut away as shown at 35 in Fig. 13. V

The recess 36 is provided to hold the thimble 32 locked when it reaches the position shown in Fig. 11. When the thimble is turned so that the recess 36 is under the flange the spring 37 presses the thimble up until the lower edge of the recess engages with theflange which engages with the shoulders at the ends of the recess 36 and holds it from turning. To turn the thimble it must first be pushed down against the spring until the recess 36 clearsthe flange 39 after which it can be turned and released from its engagement with the collar 26.

v The engagement of the annular recess 33 ,of the thimble with the flange 39 on the collar is somewhat loose, as is illustrated in cross section in Fig. 11.

Each of the thimbles isprovided with a spring which rests upon the bottom of the recess 30 or 31. which contains the thimble; in other words, the spring which presses the thimble up rests directly on an integral part of the dial plate and by the spring the thimble is pressed upwardly as far as the flanges 39 of collar 26 will permit it to go. It is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 11 that the collar 26 maybe pressed down, carrying with it the thimbles on each side thereof to the limit of thecompression of the springs which. support the thimbles, or until the thimbles are stopped by the dial plate. This gives a limited yielding motion to the collar forthe benefit of the chuck that may be carried therein.

Pivotally mounted'within the collar 26 are the fingers 4:0, 40, by whichthe button is gripped. One of these fingers is shown in cross section in Fig. 14. It is mounted on a pin 41 which passes eccentrically through the collar,'openings'42 being provided at suitable intervals in said collar fort-he reception ofsald pins. The collar is perforated. or recessed at 413, in which relar 26 is the cup 45 which is recessed at suitable intervals, as indicated at i6, for the purpose of affording clearance betweenthe lowerend of the cup and the bearings for the fingers 10. The cup is inserted in place by pressing the fingers 10 back at the top and inserting the cup into the opening from above. After the cup has reached the posi tion shown in Fig. 14, the spring pressed fingers 40 close over the top thereof and are readyto. engage with and grip the button that may beplaced in the cup 15. 7 Each of the fingers 40is providedat its upper end with a gripping edge which extends over the top ofthe cup and the button that may be placed therein.

The button cups are shown in Fig. 11 in bottom plan view, and in Fig. M in a section taken onthe line Sli -1 1 in Fig. 14, looking t it from below. The cups are cut away at 4:7 to provide clearance for the pins 41, so that the cup will not be obstructed thereby when it is being placed in position.

Two of these pins 41, with the fingers pivoted thereon, may beplaced in the collar 26 before the cup is placed in position, but the third pin must be omitted until after the collar is placed in position, because of the flange 4-8 on the bottom of the cup, shown in Figs. H and let. After this flange has passed the line of the hole 42, the pin 41 can be inserted limiting the motion of the cup Within the ring.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the cup and the collar which carries it and in which it is free to move vertically, is-permitted a slight vertical yielding movement in the dial plate, due to the compression of the springs 37, which support the thimbles 32. The parts normally stand in the position shown in- Figs. 11 and 141, but when necessarythe cup, collar and the two thiinbles can yield by an amount equal to the clearance between the bottom of the thimbles 32 and the bottom of the recesses 30 and 31 in which they travel.

It will'be noticed that the bottoms of the recesses 30 and 31 whichcontain the thimbles 32 and which contain the compression springs 37 and 88,.are perforated With a small opening for the purpose of preventing the accumulation of dirt therein. 1 7 As above describedjthedial plate is provided with five chucks, together with all the that are intended to. act upon the buttons.

The dial plate has rigidly fastened thereto the index locking disk 50 and the worm gear 51.. The worm gear meshes with the worm 52 carried on the shaft 53, on the end of which shaftis the pinion 5&1, which pinion drives the shaft 53 in one direction through the clutch 55. This clutch comprises the collar 56 keyed to the shaft 53, and the ratchet teeth 57 on the pinion 51, which engage vwith the ratchet teeth on the collar 56 for the purpose of driving it in one direction. The pinion 54 is held up in engagementwith the collar. 56 by means of the compression spring 58.

The shaft 53 and its collar 56 are held against movement in the reverse direction by means of the pawl .59, which engages with a notch 60 in the collar-.56, preventing reverse movement thereby. The pinion 5% is driven by the reciprocating rack fil-which travels in a bearing specially providedtherefor in a bracket 62, as .shown in Fig. *19. The rack is pivotally connected to the bev elcd gear 10, by whichit is reciprocated, and as .will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3, the bracket 62 can oscillate aroundthe shaft 53, as will be necessary duringthe reciprocation of the rack.

The backward movement of the rack 61, as shown in Fig. 8, causes the rotation of the shaft. and causes the dial plate to advance one step through the train of mechanism above described. To stop and hold thedial plate uniformly inthe successive positions, the index locking disk 50 is provided thereon. This disk is provided with five recesses 64,- with which may engage a spring pressed pin or pawl 65, which bears normally against this disk, being pressed into engagement with it by the compression spring 66, which compression spring bears against the shoulder 67 of the pin at one end, and against the collar 68 at the other end, all of these parts being contained in ahole that is formed inthebase22. At theouter end the pin 65 is engaged by the rockinglever 69 pivotally .mounted to rock on the pivot 70 which ismounted on the base 22. At its outer end the rocking lever carries an antifriction roller7l that is engaged by the cam 18 keyed on. the shaft 9, so that at theproper intervals thepin'65 is withdrawn, permitting the-free rotation of the dialplate.

It will be seen fromthe above description that for each rotation of the beveled gear 10, the dialplate 24 will be turned through one-fifth of arevolution and will be locked at the end of such movement, the parts being timed to release the dial plate for further rotation before the backward movement of the rack 61 begins. I Y

The dial plate 24-, index locking disk50 and the worm gear'51, are all fastened together by the screws 72,- of which three are used, and the pin 73, as is shown in Fig. 9.

Each chuck operates in the five consecutivc positions as follows:

In the first position the chuck receives the button from the feeding device through the chute 25 and the button is located therein with respect to the holes in the button.

In the second position the chuckv displays the button to the operator, so that the operator can determine what change in the position of'the button is necessary when the chuck reaches the third position.

In the third position of the chuck, the button in rotated on its vertical axis if necessary in the judgment of the operator, to properly position it with respect to its holes and to its coloring; in the fourth position the first embossing is impressed on the button, and in the fifthposition the second embossing is impressed on the button, and while the chuck isytraveling from the fifth position to the first position, the cup is raised to release the button from the gripping fingers and the pneumatic ejector operates to blow the button out of the chuck, leaving the chuck ready to receive another button, upon which the cycle of operations is repeated.

;Various mechanisms by which these op-' erations or by which the mechanical process is carried outwith respect to the button, will now be described: T

The feeding mechanism} described in my prior Patent 1,008,032 sends the buttons down the chute 25 one at a time, sothat but one button is carried in the chute at a time, the delivery of the button from the hopper being timed so that thebuttonfis delivered at the end of the chute 25 when the chuck is in its first-position thereunder. When the button arrives at the bottom of the chute 25, it finds the o ening at the bottom closed by the plunger .4. This plunger is operated from the cam-16 on the power shaft 9 as follows:

The upper end of the plunger is connected to the lever 7 5 through a sliding yoke shown in detail in Fig. 44. The lever 75 is pivoted at 7 6 to an upright, 77 carried on the bracket 7 8 which is mounted on the plate 8. At its other end the lever 7 5 has connected thereto a link? 9 which is in turn connected to the lever 80,: whichv lever is pivotally mounted at 81 on thebracket 78, and at its free end carries an anti-friction roller 82 which is operated on by the cam 16 which rotates integrally with the power shaft 9,

tivel in one. direction viz. u the lun er y a 9 Pa being pulled down by the tension sprmg 83 which is connected to the lever 80 at one end and the bracket 78 at the other end. I

After the button comes in contact with the plunger 74 the plunger is lifted by the cam and the button is allowed to drop into the locating or centering ring 85, in which ring it is detained by the pawls 86 shown in 5 and 21'. .The chute 25 delivers the button into the ring 85 so that it lands on the pawls 86 and balances itself thereon. Both of the pawls 86 are pivotally mounted at their top and are engaged by springs which press-them forward at the bottom toward the center of the centering ring of the inside of which they form apart. The pawls have projecting edges at the bottom which are beveled downward diagonally across the lower face of the pawl, conforming to the slant of the chute 25 and its continuation in the centering ring 85.

As the plunger 74 descends, it forces the button past the pawls 86 and down into the cup of the chuck as shown in Fig. 7, the button in that figure being represented by the reference numeral 88. WVhen the button enters the cup, it finds the cup raised flush with the surface of the dial plate, this raising of the cup having previously been effected by mechanism which will be hereinafter described. In the raised position of the cup 45, the gripping fingers 40 are held back by the cup, but as the cup descends with the button therein, the gripping fingers are allowed to advance and take hold of the, edge of the button and hold it securely in the cup. See Fig. 14.

1 After the button is landed in the cup, the rotation of the plunger takes place for the purpose of correcting the angular position ofthe button in the chuck with reference to its holes. The construction and operation of the plunger by which this resultis secured will now be described.

The plunger 74 at the top, has the shape of an elongated pinion, the teeth of which maintain sliding engagement with the rack 90, by the endwise movement of which the pinion is rotated. The elongated pinion has a reduced end 91,'solid therewith, on the outside of which is mounted to slidea sleeve 92. The reduced end 91 of the pinion 74 is bored out at 93 and a block 94 is mounted in Fig. 5 by the compression spring 98, which spring can be con'ipressed when the plunger '74 descends far enough to cause the -s'leeve92 to encounter an obstruction which arrests its further movement.

The block 94 is slotted and receives there in the pin block 99 which is held in position by the screw 96. The pin block 99 is held rigidly inplaee by the screw 96, the dimensions of it being such as to cause it to fit snugly at the top against the topof the recess in the block 94. The width of the pin block 99 is slightly less than the width of the recess which it fills, leaving sufficient room on either side thereof to give it proper clearance from the inside of the reduced end of the plunger 74. The block 94 and'the pin block 99 are held together by the screw 96 so as to move together. They are held normally in the position indic'ated in Fig. 5 by the compression spring 100, with the pin or screw 96 at the bottom of the slots 95 in the reduced end 91.

When the plunger 74 descends, the sleeve 92 encounters a button heldby the pawls 86 and forces the button down past the pawls 'causing the pawls to spread and drop the button into the cup 45.' The plunger continues on into engagement with the button. The sleeve 92 first encounters the rim of the button and seats itself thereon by which its further movement is arrested. The reduced end of the plunger then continues its downward movement until the pins 101 in the pinblock 99 come into engagement with the button, by which the further movement of the pin block 99 and the block 94 is arrested. As the plunger 74 is rotated thereafter, the pins 101 ride around on the button which is held against rotation by the fingers 40 which grip it. The sleeve 92 rests .On the button inside of the fingers 40 and does not touch the fingers 40 nor do these fingers touch the sleeve. The pins 101 continue to ride around on the button until they find the thread holes of the button, whereupon the expansion of the spring 100 will cause the blocks 94 and 99 to descend, push ing the pins into the holes of the button. The plunger 74 continues its rotation until the rack 90 reaches the end of its movement, carrying the button with the plunger, after which the camlG operates to raise the plunger 74 out of engagement with the button, leaving the button with its holes in a pre determined angular position.

i The rack 90 and the elongated pinion on the plunger 74 are so proportioned that the regular travel of the rack will cause the lunger 74 to rotate 180 degrees. If the button On which the machine is operating is a two-hole button, it may be necessary for the machine to turn the button 180 degrees. his'will be necessary if the pins 101 engage the holes of a button on the downward stroke before the turning of the button begins,'in which case the button will be turned to a full half-circle.

for a two-hole button will have two pins therein. The pin block for a four-holebutton may have four holes therein, and the spacing apart ofthe pins in the pin block will depend: up'onthedistance between the holes in 'theibuttons, different pin blocks being made according-1y for each type of button that'the machine will be expected to work upon. 1 p r The rack 90 're'ciprocates in a-bearing 102 formed in the bearing "bracket 78, which bearing bracket is-bored out to receive the plunger 74 and forms the support therefor, and also carries the upright77 which supports the lever 75. To the end of the rack 90 is pivoted the connecting rod 103, which in turn is connected to the long arm of the bell crank lever 104. This bell' crank lever carries on the end of its short arm the antifricti'on roller 105 which engages with the cam 17, by which it is. positively driven in one direction. Between the long arm of the bell crank and the rack is stretched the tension spring 106, and as the rack moves to the right in Fig. 4, this spring is stretched and asso'on the cam 17 releases the bell left. 'The'length ofthe connecting rod 103 is adjustable by means of the screw con nect-ionind'icated thereon in Fig. 4.

Thus'far we have described the operation of the machine on 'thebutton in the chuck in the first position. After the button has been positioned as before described in its chuck in the firstposition, the machine operates to advance the 'chuckto the second position, inwhich position the button is exposed to the eye of the operator. The further operationof the machine is forbringing all the buttons with their patterns to a uniform position so that the en ibossinginay be impressed on the button an-d the lines of the embossing will all have thesame angular position with relation to thepattern of the button. The correctposition of'the button for this purpose is indicated in Fig. 25, and the finished button with the embossed lines thereon is indicated in Fig. 26, and in Figs. 22, and 24' I have illustrated the button in the various positions in which it may be placed when the chuck leaves position No. 1 and from which the buttons must be turned 90, 130' or 270 degrees, to bring them to the correct position shown in Fig. 25. While the chuck containing the button is in the second position the button is exposed therein in one or the other of the four positions illustrated in Figs. 22, 23, 24: and 25, and it will then be necessary for the operator, as the exposure is made, to'set the machine so that after the dial plate has been rotated to the third position, the machine will operate to turn the button in its chuck, 90, 180 or 270 degrees, or leave it undisturbed as the case may be.

If the button is a two-hole button, the button must be turned 180 degrees only orleft in its original position. If the button is a three-hole button, it must be turned 120 or 2 10 degrees, as the case may be, the unit of angular movement in each case being equal to 360 degrees divided by the number of holes in the button. The mechanism by which this rotation of the button is secured when the chuck is in the third position, I

will now describe. I Pivotally mounted on the bracket 108. ar the key levers 109, 110, and 111, which levers are provided at their forward-ends with key tips similar to the buttons ordinarily used which in turn are connected to the long arms of the bell cranks 115, 116 and117. These bell cranks are pivotally mounted onthe swinging plate 118, which plate is mounted to swing on the lugs 119 which are integral with the casing 120 which forms part of the bracket 108. The plate 118 is connected to the lugs 119 by the pivot pin 121. The plate 118 is positively moved in one direction by the reciprocation of the cam bar 122, which bar is moved up and down by mechanism that will presently be described. This bar has the cam 123 thereon which engages with the pin 12a carried "on the plate 118 and moves the plate in one direction against the torsion of the spring 125. The bar 122 is lifted by its compression spring 126 and when it is lifted, the spring 125 operates to swing the plate out.

As the plate 118 swings it carries with it the bell cranks 115, 116 and 117. These bell cranks are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 33 by the springs which are connected to the short arms of the bell cranks at one end and to the plate at the other end. The short arm of each of the bell cranks terminates in a cam 127' which engages between interlocking blocks 128, 129, 130 and 131 shown in Fig. 36. The bottom of each of the blocks is flat and slightly beveled on the edge; The top of each of the blocks except the top one is cup shaped. The blocks 128, 129 and 130 are mounted to slide on the rod 132. The bottom block is pressed upwardly by the compression spring 133 one end of which bears against the bottom block 131- and the other end of which bears against the adjusting screw 134. It will be understood that all of the interlocking blocks are carried in a sleeve that is integral with the plate 118, which sleeve is slotted to receive the short arms of the bell crank levers which project therethrough for the purpose of engaging with the ends of the interlocking" blocks. The parts contained in the sleeve are inserted from either end thereof and the sleeve is closed at the lower end by the screw 134i and at the upper end by the screw 135. The screw 135 is bored out and receives therein the compression spring 136 which bears against the screw 135 at the top and against the washer 137 at the bottom. This washer 137' normally rests on a shoulder within the sleeve which limits the downward movement of the washer and positions the interlocking blocks thereunder so that the entering edge of the cam at the short end of each of the bell cranks will be normally in line with the lower end of the block which must be lifted by the bell crank when it is operated.

When any of the keys are depressed the cam at the end of the short end of the bell crank engagesw'ith the block adjacent thereto and lifts it, lifting the other blocks above it if necessary, and the washer 137 compressing the spring 136. cam also presses down the blocks below it, compressing the spring 133 until the shoulder, on the cam has passed into the cup at the top of the block, when the spring 133 expands and lifts the blocks so that the block immediately under the lever raises into engagement with the shoulder on the cam and locks the lever in engagement therewith.

The compression spring 136 is stronger At the same time the than the spring 133 and therefore holds the washer 137 seated on its shoulder, below which it cannot pass, and the spring 133 forces the blocks up against the washer, which prevents them from going higher, holding the joints between the blocks opposite the tips of the cams on the short arms of the bell crank levers.

The interlocking blocks prevent the operation of more than one key at a time and after. a key has been depressed the blocks hold the lever which has been operated in its operated position, the operated position being shown in full lines in Fig. 40 and the .unoperated position being shown in dotted lines. The levers are released by depressing the rod 132 which compresses the spring 133 and permits the interlocking blocks to drop by gravity away from the shoulder on the bell crank from below, and the block above, which. has been raised by the operation of the lever to compress the spring 136, will be forced down by the expansion of the spring and will tend to force the bell crank back to its reset position. WVhen the bell cranks are locked in operated position, the spring 138 attached thereto, as shown in Fig. 33, is stretched, and as soon as the bell crank is released the contraction of the spring pulls the bell crank back to normal position. In this way the partsare reset for a second operation. The mechanism by which the bar 132 is operated will presently be described.

Mounted to slide in the casing is the plunger 139, by which the rotation of the button is secured. This plunger has connected thereto at the top a yoke 140 by which it can be raised and lowered, which yoke permits the free rotation of the plunger. This yoke is connected in turn to the lever 141 which is keyed to the shaft 142, to which in turn is keyed the lever 143, to which in. turn is connected the link 144. To this link is pivotally connected the long arm, of the bell crank lever 145, which bell crank is pivoted to lugs at 146 which are integral with the brackets 108. The short arm of the bell crank 145 carries thereon the anti-friction roller 147 which engages with the cam 20, by which the several parts are operated to lift the plunger 139. As the anti-friction roller 147 is moved down, the bell crank rocks and stretches the tension spring 148 which is connected to the bell crank at one end and the bracket 108 at the other end. The contraction of this spring forces the plunger 139 down into engagement with the button. See Fig. 32.

The plunger 139 at its lower end has a shoulder 149 and a reduced end 150. This reduced end is bored out and carries therein the block 151, which block is in turn recessed and contains thepin block 152. Outside of the reduced end is carried the sleeve 153 which is pressed down by the compression spring 154 which is compressed between the shoulder 149 at one end and the top of the sleeve at the other end. The reduced end of the plunger is slotted, as is also the sleeve 153, and through the block 151 and through the slot in the reduced end 150 and the slot in the sleeve 153, extends a pin by which the several parts are held together. hen theplunger descends the sleeve 153 first comes into contact with the button in the chuck and its further movement is arrested thereby. The plunger however continues to descend, compressing the spring 154- until the block 152 with its pins comes into contact with the button. The pins in the block 152 will ordinarily find the holes in the button at once, but if they do not the further movement of the block will be arrested by the button and the plunger can continue to descend, compressing the spring 155.

'The parts above described which are carried at the bottom of the plunger 139, are substantially the same in construction and manner of operation as the corresponding parts at the bottom of the plunger 74 above described. See Figs. 5 and After the engagement between the plunger and the button is secured the rotation of the plunger through 90, 180 or 270 degrees occurs. After the rotation of the plunger is finished it moves up out of contact with the button and then rotates back to its starting point. The plunger or any given point thereon is thus moved through a path having four sides from the starting point back to the starting point and this movement may be referred to as a four way movement. The parts by which this rotation'is secured will be described as follows:

Surrounding the plunger are the gear wheels or pinions 156, 157 and 158, which gear wheels are mounted to rotate normally freely around the plunger. Mountedin the casingparallel to the plunger is the oscillating shaft 159, which shaft has keyed thereon pinions160, 161 and 162. The pinion 160 meshescontinually with the pinion 156. I The pinion 161 meshes continually with the pinion 157. The pin-ion 162 meshes continually with the pin-ion 158. The shaft 159 carries at its bottom a pinion 163 keyed thereto or integral therewith, which pinion meshes with the rack 164, by the reciprocation of which rack the shaft and the pinions thereon are oscillated, as are also the pinions on the plunger 139. The shaft 159 has the enlarged end 165 which engages with and r0.- tates in a suitable bearing formed in the bracket 108. The shaft 159 has a shoulder and reduced end 166 at the top, the reduced end extending through a suitable opening in the casing at the top. The shaft 159 is held in place atthe top by the washer 167 and the nut 168 which engages with the threaded end of the shaft 159.

The pinions 160 and 156 are so proportioned that .a revolution of the shaft 159 through 180 degrees will cause the pinion 156 to revolve through ninety degrees. A rotation of the shaft 159 through 180 degrees will drive the pinion 157 through 180 degrees by reason of itsengagement with thepinion 161. A rotation of the shaft 159 through 180 degrees will drive the pinion 158 through 270 degrees by reason of its engagement with the pinion 162, and the three pairs of pinions are proportioned as to their pitch and the number of teeth thereon so as to secure this result. .The rack 164 is reciprocated far enough to .causethe shaft 159 and the pinions keyed thereto to oscillate through 180 degrees, and whileso oscil lating the pinion 156 on the plunger 139 oscillates through 90 degrees, the pinion 157 oscillates through 180 degrees, and the pinion 158 oscillates through 270 degrees. This arrangement of pinions adapts itself prop erly to buttons as shownhaving'two and four holes therein and a different arrangement of pinions would be necessary it buttonshaving a difiierent arrangement of holes were to be operated upon by. the machine, as will be readily apparent. The pinions 156, 157 and 158'oscillate freely on the plunger 139. does not partake of the oscillation of the pinions unless specially coupled thereto. The pinions can be coupled to the plunger 139 so as to cause it to rotate through 90, 180 or 270 degrees, by mechanism which I will now describe. P v

The plunger 139 is provided with three key-ways 170, 171 and 172. Each of the pinions has a collar integral therewith that surrounds the plunger'139. 0n each of these collars a ring 173 is fastened rigid therewith. This ring is pierced diametrically with a cylindrical opening 17 4: having a reduced opening 175. Mounted to'slide in this cylindrical opening 174 is the key 176 This key has a reduced end which fits in thereduced end 175 of the cylindricalopening, and it also has a shoulder which engages with the shoulder in the cylindrical opening, which limits its movement away from the center of rotation as is illustrated in Fig. 35. The parts are so arranged that the end of the key normally stands flush with the periphery of thering 173 and the inner surface of the collar of the pinion on which the ring is mounted. Through the casing is placed a cylindrical opening 177, in which is mounted to slide the pin 178, having the reduced end 17 9. The shoulder at the base ofthe reduced end engages with a plate 180 through which the reduced end extends, by which it is held from coming out of place. Between the pin 178 and the key 176 a ball 181 is placed'having a radius somewhat less than the traveler the pin and key. This ball normally rests entirely in the cylindrical hole in the-casing. When the pin 178'is moved forward it pushes the ball into the reduced end 17 5 of the cylindrical opening 174: and pushes the key 176 into engagement with the key-way 170, cauging the ring 173 to carry the plunger 139 with it in its rotation. The portion of the ball 181 which projects outside of the cylindrical opening 17 5 would look the ring against rotation except for the fact that the casing 120 is cutaway with the annular grooves 182 which serve as races for the balls 181 as they are carried around by the rings. The ball holds the key forward in plunger.

The plunger.

engagement with the key-way of the plunger 139 during the oscillation of the ring and When the plunger 139 rises after it has'finished its oscillation, the cams 183 at the bottom of the key-ways operate to push out the key, ball and pin to their normal position. The plunger 139 is raised by the cam 20 through two successive steps. a he lirst'step disengages the plunger from the button so that the button is left advanced 90, 180 or 270 degrees, as the case may be. At the end of the first step the plunger is rotated backward to its starting point and is then raised to its initial position. It the plunger were completely raised in one step before the angular movement had been completed, the cams could not op erate to force out the key and the ball because they had not yet been placed in line with the opening 18% in the casing. lhe cam 20 is shaped accordingly so as to the upward movement of the plunger 139 midway and hold it there until the spring 198 has operated on the rack 164 to oscillate the plunger in the backward direction.

It will be understood of course that but one of the sets of gears can be keyed to the plunger at a time. Otherwise the operation of the machine would be entirely prevented or some of the parts would be broken.

Hence the need for the interlock between the levers 115, 116 and 117.

The keys 176 are thrown into engagement with the plunger to cause the rotation thereof, by the operation of the levers 109, 110 and 111, as will now be described.

When the lever 109 is operated it carries with it the link 112 and the bell crank 115. This bell crank is carried down past the pin 179 which projects through the casing. T plate 118 is then rocked, ca *ying the lever 115sidewise against the pin 179, driving the pin 179, ball 181 and key 176 inward, so as to lock the ring w iich carries the key 176 to the plunger 139. so that the ro ion of the pinion 156 and the ring 173 fas cHQCl thereto will cause the rotation of the plunger as well' This rotation not until the plunger has fully descended into engagement with the button. As soon as the plunger has completed its rotation in one direction, the cam 20 operates to raise the plunger half way and hold it there while the backward rotation is completed, after which the plunger is raised the balance of the distance and positively ejects the key.

1 Carried near the top of the plunger and integral therewith is the plate 185 having the cam projection 186 integral therewith. This plate 185 is keyed to the plunger 139 and moves up and down and rotates therewith. Loosely mounted on the plunger 139 is the plate 187 having the projection 188 thereon. The cam projection 186 carries the pin 189, which pin extends in the path 

